Faucet



Allg. 21,y 1934. l J, KORNS 1,971,186

FAUCET l Filed NOV. 30, .1932

I9 y INVENToR i.

' Qimm.

Arrfio Patented ug. 2l, 1934 UNITED srargs earner orgies FAUCET Joseph Kornas, Linden, N. J.V

vimplication November 30, i932, Serial No. 644,947

14 Claims.

The invention relates to faucets or basin cocks of the type in which a floating valve is normally maintained on its valve seat by virtue of the fluid pressure at the inlet end of the faucet,

'5 with or without the assistance of springs, for

maintaining the valve on its seat and in which the valve is moved off its seat to open the faucet by means of a manually actuated screw plunger.

The primary object of this invention is to simplify faucets of this character and to provide a structure which will be positive in its action; which will insure an easeof movement of the valve and its actuating mechanism in moving the valve off its seat to open the faucet; which will insure avquiet unobstructed flow from the discharge spout and which will insure la snug positive seating of the valve back on to its valve scat closing the faucetwhen releasedY by the actuating mechanism.'

In faucets of this character it hasl been found thateven though. theymay function satisfac torily when new this satisfactory performance has but a short .life and as soon asthe rubber o1' other gaskets forming the surface between the valve and its seat become Worn, the faucet became noisy; a chattering and wobbling action of the valve develops; the gasket starts to wear,y

The present disclosure features a construction in which the wobbling action of the valve in its movement on to its seat is avoided; the resulting chattering is eliminated and the life of the gasket or equivalent compressible element is prolonged and there is thus provided a faucet which has a materially longer life compared to known devices, before it is necessary to replace the gasket and other wearable parts.

Broadly this latter object is attained by pro viding guiding means internally engaging the valve for maintaining it in a unilateral direction of movement as it engages and disengages its valve seat.

The present disclosure also features a long bearing between the valve and its guiding means and the providing of a massive head of compressible material for engaging the valve seat and for providing surplus material for .prolonging the time during which the sealing at the valve seat is maintained.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an 'inspection of the accompanying drawingy and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of one form of mechanism embodying my invention and the inver;u tion also consists in Certain new and novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a faucet constituting e preferred embodin ment of the'invention and showing the valve in its normal closed position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar view shown partly in Side elevation and illustrating a modified form of the invention and showing the valve of Fig. l in open position.

In the drawing and referring. indiscriminately to the .showing in either figure, there is dis closed a faucet including a housing 10 which comprises a vertically disposed body portion l1 provided with the fluid inlet passageway 12cm one side and a discharge spout 13 on tlie'other side. The faucet is provided with an attaching flange 1i encircling the inlet passageway and otherwise corresponds in general to conventional forms of water bibbs now in general use. The

body portion 11 is of somewhat cylindricalform C with its bore divided midlength by means of a horizontally extending apertured partition 15 which divides, the same into an upper discharge chamber 16 in open communication on one 'side with the spout 13 and into an inlet chamber 17, the lower portion of which communicates with the fluid inlet 12 by means of an inclined vpassageway 18. The lower end of the inlet chamber 17 is open. and internally screw threaded to receive a screw plug 19.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Fig. 1 the partition 15 is provided with aperture 20 and on the side thereof facing the inlet chain-Y ber the aperture is bevelled to provide a frustoconical Valve seat 2l. In the form of the invention shown in 2, a cylindrical tubular cage 22, hereinafter sometimes referred to as a pressure distributor, is threaded into the upper end of the housing 10 and has its lower end engaging in a shoulderedrseat 23 .formed in the partition 15. The lower end of the cage 22 is open and this open; end is shaped to provide a frustofconical or preferably a slightly curved concavedvalvc seat 24 corresponding to the valve seat 21. The peripheral wall of the cage 22 is provided adja.- cent its lower end with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ports 25 which provide a series of passageways between the interior of the cage 22 above the valve seat and an annular channel 26 formed between the exterior side of the cage 22 and the adjacent wall which outlines the discharge chamber 16 and which channel opens on one side thereof into the spout 13.

The upper portion or" the bore in the housing l0 in the showing in Fig. 1 is internally threaded, and similarly the upper portion of the bore of the cylindrical cage 22 of Fig. 2 is internally threaded. In both showings a screw plunger 27 is provided with an enlarged threaded portion 28 in spaced relation to its opposite ends and which is in threaded engagement with the threads of the housing or cylindrical cage so that as the screw plunger is rotated it moves axially up and down in the housing or in the cylindrical cage. Below the threaded portion 28 the plunger is reduced in diameter to provide a valve engaging stem 29 the lower end of which is provided with conical recess 30 ior engaging the valve as hereinafter described. The upper end of the screw plunger is provided with a handle stem 31 which projects above the housing, extends through a cap 32 and is provided at its outer end with a handle 33. Suitable washers and gaskets 34 are contained within the cap as is usual in faucets or this character.

A valve guiding rod 35 is secured to the screw plug 19 and extends upwardly therefrom axially along the inlet chamber 17. A valve 36 is slidably mounted on the rod and is guided thereby f in a unilateral direction in its movement 'to and from the valve seat. The valve comprises a central metallic core 37, preferably of brass, provided with a bore 38 opening from the lower end and into which the rod 35 extends for a relatively long distance.- The upper end of the core is solid and is provided with an axially extending conical projection 39 which is designed to have a fit in the recess 30 at the lower end of the screw plunger. It is a feature of this disclosure that the metallic end of the screw plungerin its contact with the valve engages a metallic member so that there is a metal-toemetal con? tact between the valve and the screw plunger which actuates the same in moving it off its seat to open the faucet. The brass core 37 is contained within a long sleeve` 40 of rubber or equivalent compressible material of the type usually employed in forming gaskets and like valve seat engaging or forming materials. In the instant case the sleeve 40 is of cylindrical form for the major portion or" its length and has its upper end enlarged to form a head 41 having a peripheral configuration to conform to and engage the valve seat therefor and to provide for the necessary bulk of material at the seat to compensate for wear of the rubber gasket formed by this head. A coil spring 4l encircles the rod 35 and is csed between the screw plug 19 and the lower end of the valve to move the valve in the direction to engage its seat. rIt is understood that the screw plug, rod, spring and valve constitute a single unit which can be demounted from the housing as a whole thus permitting the ready inspection and repair of the component parts as well as to provide direct access to the valve seat for the purpose of regrinding or otherwise repairing the same.

In operation and assuming that the parts are in their normal, faucet-closed position as shown in Fig. l, it will be understood that the fluid pressure from the inlet and inlet chamber 1*? acts upwardly on the relatively extensive surface provided by the underside of the valve, holds the same snugly on to its seat and thus shuts off communication through the opening in the partition 15. It is understood that under these conditions the screw plunger has been rotated a distance suicient to elevate it clear of the valve and thus permit the valve to be forced on to its seat without interference from the controlling plunger and to show this condition it will be assumed that there is a clearance at 43 between the adjacent ends of the plunger and valve.

To open the faucet the handle 33 is rotated in the direction to cause the plungerto move from the inoperative position spaced above the valve as shown in Fig. 1, downwardly into engagement with the valve to press the same away from the valve seat and into the open position shown in Fig. 2. It will be Luiderstood that this action will be contra to the direction of iiuid pressure which has been acting to maintain the valve seated. In those situations where there is relatively high inlet pressure the spring shown at 42 is unnecessary, but the use of the spring as herein disclosed insures the positive seating of the valve independent of the fluid pressure which acts in the same direction as the spring. The threaded portion at 28 is provided with threads having a low lead so that the valve is held locked in its open position and will remain sollocked in its open position irrespective of the pressure which may be acting in a tendency to close the valve andthis condition will continue until the plunger is positively rotated into position to permit the Avalve tofollow it as the handle is turned in the direction'to lift the plunger and thus permit the valve to move back on its seat as previously described.

It is a feature of this disclosure that the valve is guide-d in a unila'eral direction in its movement to and from its seat thus avoiding lateral shifting Vor wobbling which has characterized similar forms of valve constructions where the Valve was free to movelaterally in addition to its prescribed 'axially longitudinal movement. The providing of an internal guide as herein disclosed provides a valve structure which is free of external projections and provides the maximum possible clearance in the annular passageway 17. .At the same time the enlarged head at the valve seat end of the valve provides an extensive pressurereceiving area which is greater than the'corresponding cross sectional areaof the opening forming the valve seat. It is a further eature o the invention that the valve is made relatively long so as to provide a long axial bearing for the valve in its guided movements.

It is possible by unscrewing the plug 19 to drop the valve together with its guiding rod and seating spring from the underside o1 t e faucet and thus facilitate the inspection or repairing of the valve and at the same time there is provided a ready access to the valve seat for any necessary regrinding or cleaning.

Referring particularly to the modified showing in Fig. 2, it is appreciated that by unscrewing the cap 32 and removing the handle 33, the gaskets 34 may be readily replaced and on the withdrawal of the` entire plunger the cage 22 with its valve seat forming end may be unscrewe-d from the faucet for repair, cleaning or regrinding of the. valve seat thus exposed. In the showing of the device in Fig. 2, it will be understood that the fluid in its upward movenient through the annular passageway 17 passes the head of the valve on all sides of the same and then moves laterally through the four ports 25 into the passageway 26 and thus out through the nozzle. .The balancing of the streams through the opposing ports 25 has the effect of quieting the flow as it passes out through thev nozzle.'

Under some conditions as when the liquid con trolled by the faucet is high or when the threaded engagement of the plunger with the faucet housing or cage is made loose to provide fora freedom of movement of the handle 33, the liquid has a tendency, when the valve is open, to-

creep up through the clearance between the coacting threads, and this necessitates a tight packing 34 to prevent leakage out through the top of the faucet. Any tight packing at 34, of course, has a tendency to reduce the freedom of rotary movement'of the handle 33 and it is a feature of this disclosure to provide a handle control which is easy to operate. In a structure such as is shown in Fig. 1, when the valve is closed the liquid which has been trapped'between the threads on the upper or low pressure side of the valve tends to drain back into the outlet chamber 16 and is discharged slowly dropby-drop thus giving rise to an undesirable dripping from the spout 13. In order to avoidnecessity of a tight packing at 34 and to prevent this dripping the threaded portion 28 is provided in the showing in Fig. 2 with a discharge drain slot 44 which is formed most conveniently as a straight slot in the side of the plunger, as shown, but which preferably should be inclined in a spiral form to facilitate a quick flow along the same. It is obviously possible to form the slot in the'threaded portion of the housing or cage and in either case there is formed a drain passageway from the gaskets 34 to the outlet chamber 16. In this case the liquid rising initially in the passageway 44 tends to compress air trapped in the upper closed end of the passageway. When the valve is closed the compressed air at the top of the' passageway reacts on the water column below the same to expel the water in the passageway. At the same time the watentrapped between the threads is drawn into the slot' 44 which provides a wide open discharge channel for any water which may be above the discharge chamber 16. In practice there is a short quick spurt of liquid which ilows out from the spout immediately after the valve is closed and no further drip takes place.

While the core 37 may be of a simple straight cylindrical form with the rubber coating 40 adhering thereto either by virtue of its elasticity or by adhesion, it is suggested that the upper portion of the core be enlarged slightly to form a bulbous head 45 which acts as a stop to prevent the liuid pressure on the lower or high pressure side of the valve seat acting on the lower end of the rubber sleeve from stripping the same upwardly off the core. In the preferred construction illustrated in Fig. 1 the head 45 is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the opening 20 through the valve seat. Under these conditions the upper curved side 46 of the head coacts with the similarly curved underside of the valve seat to wedge the rubber gasket forming head 41, at least to a small extent, between the core and the valve seat. The greater the fluid pressure acting on the seated valve the greater will become this wedging engagement. Where there is a high fluid pressure present the parts are designed to avoid any such wedging action as will interfere with the desired ease of movement of the valve when forced off its seat by rotative action of the plunger 'under the desired light manual pressure` acting on the handle 33.

'Iolaimz- YW v Y 1.*A faucet including a single casting comprising an upstanding body portion provided with a bore open at opposite ends, said body portion provided with a horizontally extending partition dividing thebore into an upper discharge chamber and a lower inlet chamber, said partition provided 'on its underside with a slightly curved concaved valve seat adapted vto be exposed to -view through the lower open end of the bore, a discharge spout opening from one side of the discharge chamber above the valve, and a downwardly inclined inlet passageway opening into the lower `portion of the inlet cham-Y ber on the side thereof opposite the spout, a plug for closing the lower open end of the bore, a guide rod carried by the plug and extending axially along thev inlet chamber, a oating valve in the inlet chamber telescoping the guide rod, extending across the inlet passageway opening and having its upper endfashioned to fit in said concaved valve seat, Vand normally maintained on'said seat by the upward pressure in the inlet chamber, a screw plunger in threaded engagement with the upper portion of the bore in the body portion and provided with a stem extending across the outlet chamber and adapted to bear on the upper side of the valve to move the sameV off its seat, and a cap closing the upper endr of the bore and through which cap the plunger extends.

2. A faucet comprising a housing provided with means forming a cylindrical inlet chamber open lat its lower end and provided with a valve seatV at its upper end, a screw plug for closing the lower open end, a guide rod secured to theV plug and removable therewith, a valve comprising a metallic core and a sleeve of compressible material telescoping the core and having an end portion fashioned to engage the valve seat and said core provided with an axially extending bore into which the guide rod extends to guide the'valve in its movement to and :from its valve seat and a spring disposed between the screwA plug and valve tending normally to maintain the Valve on its seat, and said valve, spring and screw plug being removable from the housing as a unit` thus exposing thevalve seat through thel open lower end of the faucet.

3. A faucet comprising a housing provided with means forming an inlet chamber open Vat its lower end and provided with a valve seat at its upper end, a screw plug for closing the lower open end, a guide rod secured to the plug and removable therewith, a valve comprising a metallic Y core and a sleeve of compressible material telescoping the core Vand having an end portion fashioned to engage the valve seat and said core provided with an axially extending bore into Which'the guide rod extends anda springdisposed between thescrew plug and valve tending normally to maintain the valve on its seat.

4. A faucet comprising a housing provided with means forming a cylindrical inlet chamber open at its lower end and provided with a valve seat at its upper end, a screw plug for closing the lower open end, a guide rod secured to the plug and removable therewith, a valve comprising a metallic core and a sleeve of compressible the valve in its movement to and from its valve seat. j Y

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve housing having an annular valve seat, a nxed guide rod extending axially towards the center of said seat, a valve-slidaoly mounted on the rod in its movement to and from said seat, a plunger extending axially of the rod and disposed to engage the valve to move the same orf its seat and along said guide rod and a spring coiled about the kguide rod'and bearing `at one end against the valve to maintain the same in engagement With said seat.

6. A faucet provided with an annular valve seat, a floating valve normally engaging said seat, relatively long bearing means for guiding the valve in its movements to and from its seat, said valve including a relatively long sleeve of non-metallic material enlarged at one said seat, said valve including a metallic corev provided with a head at the end and provided with a bore receiving the rod, said bore terminating exteriorly of the head to leave the head as a solid mass of metal `and a sleeve of compressible non-metallic material secured to and telescopi-ng the core and side of the head and adapted to engage the valve seat, the headed end of the metallic corehaving anexposed portion within Jne sleeve constituting a metallic seat for a valve unseating element.

8. A `faucet including an upstanding inlet chamber open at opposite ends, an annular' valve seat deiining the upper end of the chamber, means for closing the lower open end of the chamber, an inlet passageway opening laterally into the side o i'. the chamben, relatively long valvular mechanism insertable into the chamber through its lower open end, extending axially of said chamber and providing a long annular passageway between the same and the wall of the chamber said mechanismincluding a centraily positioned fixed guide rod and a long `valve-slidably mounted on the rod and normally engaging said seat by virtue of the fluid pressure from the inlet passageway, said valve and rod providing a long bearing in the direction of movement of the valve to and from its seat.

9. A valve comprising a relatively long metal rod provided at one end with an axially extending guiding bore and with a solid head at the other end with the extreme end surface of said other end exposed to form a contacting surface for a ValveY unseating device, a sleeve of no-nmetallic material telescoping the rod and pro- 11. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of. a-housing having means providing an annular valve seat, with a discharge chamber `on the low pressure side of said valve seat, a valve on the high pressure side or" the valve seat normally engaging said seat, a screw plunger on the low pressure side of the valve seat for unseating-thevalva coacting threads providing a threaded engagement between the plunger and housing and said plunger provided with means atfsaidthreaded engagement for draining from the clearances between the threads forming said engagement back into thedischarge chamber any liquid which may have been forced into the clearances while the valve was open.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing provided with a threaded bore and having a discharge chamber at one end of the threaded bore, a plunger in threaded engagement with saidbore, a closure cap at the other end of the threaded bore and through which the plunger extends, a gasket in said cap for closing the adjacent end or the bore, and said plunger and threaded bore coacting to provide a drain passageway for discharging into the discharge passageway any accumuiations which may bein the clearances between the threaded bore and the portion of the plunger which is contained therein. v

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve housing having an annular valve" seat of substantially frusta-conical form, a iloating valve having a portion or" corresponding form for engaging said seat, said valve including a relatively long core provided with an enlarged head at, the end adjacent the valve seat, and a coating 'of non-metallic coinprissible material disposed between the enlarged head and the valve seat and the portion of the coating `engaging the vave seat increasing in radial cross sectional area inV the direction of unseating movement of the valve. v

- 14. In a device or the class described, the combination of a valve housing having an annular valve seat of substantialiy frusto-conical form, a valve having an annular head of ccmpressible material with-one side fashioned to rit said seat, and a metallic core extending axially of the valve seat and provided with a wedging head of less diameter thanl the diameter or the opening through the valve seat, said metallic head acting on the compressible head oi the valve to cause the head to be wedged slightly between the metallic core head and the valve seat.

JOSEPH KORNAs. 

